Smart Energy Choices Just Got More Rewarding
Customers in select areas of Palmer and surrounding communities can now earn extra rewards for helping manage energy demand on the hottest and brightest days. With options available for both residential and business customers, you can participate in a way that works for you and start earning rewards.
Together, we can support a stronger, more resilient electric grid, and you’ll earn extra incentives for your participation. Program runs through March 31, 2030.
Select the tabs below to learn more and enroll.
Receive $5,000* for the installation of a battery storage system.
Plus – you could earn an average of $1,300 this year with a battery storage system.
When demand on the electric grid is at its highest, battery storage systems can help support a safe, reliable supply of electricity to the community — while also offering backup power to your home or business in the event of power outages.
On some bright and sunny days, solar panels can produce more electricity than the local grid can safely take in at that moment. Instead of letting that clean energy go to waste by turning solar down, we may occasionally send a signal to your home battery to “soak up” the extra—charging your battery from your solar panels during a short, scheduled window (often around midday). This helps keep the local grid running smoothly while making better use of the solar energy being generated right in your community.**
When you enroll a qualifying battery system in ConnectedSolutions+, you can earn premium incentives by allowing us to dispatch your battery during periods of peak electric demand or congestion. You’ll help reduce strain on the grid when it matters most — and earn rewards for sharing your stored energy. It’s a smart way to maximize your battery’s value while supporting your community.
ConnectedSolutions+ Palmer limited-time incentive |
|---|
$5,000 rebate + an average of $1,300 per year |
$300/kW (previously $275) |
Up to 60 events per year |
Events last up to 3 hours between 9 am and 9 pm |
* Must start interconnection process by 12/31/26 and enroll in CS+ by 12/31/28
** We guarantee that you will not earn less due to the addition of solar sponging. Your performance payment will be the higher of what you would have earned with or without solar sponging, based on your actual performance. For more information on Solar Sponging, please see "What is solar sponging?" under the FAQ section.
You can opt out of individual events if you wish. The more events you participate in, the more you earn. The above incentives are valid until March 31, 2030.
ConnectedSolutions+ energy-sharing events call on your battery system to automatically discharge during peak demand days. There are no more than 60 events each year, and events last a maximum of 3 hours. You can opt to receive notification of events from your battery, and you can always opt out of events.
Enroll today through our approved battery storage partners:
NOTE: Incentive amounts shown on third-party enrollment sites may reflect standard offers. However, customers enrolling in ConnectedSolutions+ will be identified through our system and receive the higher promotional incentive. Confirmation of your enrollment in ConnectedSolutions+ will be provided via email.
Don’t see your battery manufacturer? You may be eligible for the standard, state-wide program. Check eligibility.
Incentives:
You will be rewarded on a pay-for-performance basis for the average wattage performed throughout the season at the rate based on the table above.
Once you are enrolled, you are welcome to disenroll from the program at any time. To do so, you can email [email protected] with your name, address, and battery type and we will help you to disenroll.
Don’t have a battery system yet?
When you enroll in ConnectedSolutions, you may qualify for 0% financing of your new battery system. When combined with annual incentives, this is a great way to pay off your investment.
Zero-interest equipment financing
Customers are eligible to apply for a HEAT Loan for the equipment and labor costs associated with installing a battery storage system. The term of the Heat Loan depends on household earnings.
Environmental attributes, or Clean Peak Energy Credits (CPECs), are associated with your participation in ConnectedSolutions events. These are assigned to the Mass Save Sponsors and their partners, which helps the Sponsors meet their legal requirements under the Massachusetts Clean Peak Standard. This has no effect on your participation incentives.
Business customers in select areas of Palmer and surrounding communities can now earn extra rewards for helping manage energy demand on the hottest days with ConnectedSolutions+, an enhanced version of our standard program. By temporarily reducing energy usage in your facility or discharging a battery during periods of high energy demand, you can earn increased financial incentives each summer when you help reduce peak demand, manage costs, and support a reliable, cleaner grid.
The program runs through March 31, 2030.
| NEW! Turn-Up | |
|---|---|
| Incentives | $45/kW |
| Typical # of events | Up to 10 events |
| Event duration | up to 3 hours |
| Ideal customers | Customers with operational flexibility to increase processes for up to 3 hours |
ConnectedSolutions+ is an upgrade from our standard ConnectedSolutions program.
How to enroll
Contact one of our approved Curtailment Service Providers to get started
Check Eligibility
Use the map below to see if your home or business is eligible for ConnectedSolutions+.
Please note: Eligible areas are shaded, and ineligible areas are unshaded. This map is for general reference only and may not reflect all eligible areas. Eligibility is subject to verification. Contact us directly to confirm your program eligibility.
ConnectedSolutions are demand response programs that offer customers rewards for lowering their electric use at times when demand is high for electricity (peak events). Less energy demand during peak events helps reduce stress on the electric grid and manage energy costs by decreasing the need for additional generation during peak times.
No, if you are a current National Grid ConnectedSolutions participant and receive an email about ConnectedSolutions+, you have been automatically enrolled in the new program.
You will receive your enrollment incentive as a virtual prepaid card via email* within 4 to 6 weeks of being accepted into the program.
You will receive your annual performance incentive as a prepaid virtual card via email from 'ConnectedSolutions' at the end of the program's season, after your second full season of enrollment. If you participated in the electric program, you will receive your performance incentive by 12/15.
If you do not activate your virtual card(s) within 2 weeks of receiving the email, a physical prepaid card will be mailed to the name and address enrolled in the program.
*The email address will be from our program administrator, EnergyHub.
You can opt-out of an event at any time by adjusting your temperature directly on your thermostat, or using the phone app connected to your thermostat.
If you would like to unenroll your thermostat send an email [email protected]. Please include your name, address, and thermostat type (e.g. Honeywell, ecobee, Sensi, etc.) in your email and we will help you to unenroll.
If you would like to unenroll your battery storage system, please contact your inverter manufacturer or send an email to [email protected].
Solar sponging occurs when solar panels produce more electricity than the local grid can safely take at that moment. By using electricity or charging a battery storage system during these times, the electric grid can operate safely.
Customers in Solar Sponging areas are eligible for an increased ConnectedSolutions incentive rate above the statewide base rate. The Solar Sponging Adder Rate applies for a program year if the customer’s battery storage system remains enrolled and available for Solar Sponging Events and the customer does not opt out of more than 50% of the Solar Sponging events during that Program Year.
If the system is unavailable for Solar Sponging Events (for reasons not within the customer’s control) or the customer opts out of more than 50% of eligible Solar Sponging Events in a Program Year, the customer’s incentive rate will revert to the statewide base rate, and incentives will be calculated under the standard ConnectedSolutions rules (without Solar Sponging).
